CANMORE – Armed with bear spray and ready to fly on two quick wheels, mountain bikers had to be extra cautious at the Canmore Nordic Centre with grizzlies pawing around recently.
Despite a closure to select trails due to the big bruins' activity, racers from across North America avoided any run-ins at the Canmore Canada Cup from June 16-19.
Local riders cracked the top 10 all event long and one was fast standout Eva Poidevin, claiming seventh in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) cross-country Olympic (XCO), and sixth cross-country short track (XCC) for Elite Women.
“I wasn’t sure how the course was going to feel, but it dried up a lot over the course of a week, so trail conditions were amazing and it’s so cool to race here,” Poidevin said.
In Saturday’s XCO, Poidevin must have felt like a chasing bear was on her heels during the final lap as the Bicycle Cafe rider turned it on to leave multiple racers in the dust on her home course.
“That’s kind of typical for me,” Poidevin said. “I feel like I can unlock this next level in my last leg, just mentally. I give it my all and see how it goes. It worked out for me this time and I was able to gain to more places.”
In the Elite Men’s XCO, Canmore’s Logan Sadesky pedalled to seventh place among the field of top Canadians and Americans.
Just a month removed from winning his first UCI XCO race in Utah, Sadesky had a bounce back weekend after an illness a week prior.
“I knew I had the base pace and I was probably struggling with the hard efforts, so I just rode my own race and didn’t get too caught up with what’s happening around me,” he said.
“You always want to be fighting for a podium position and today was just kind of making it back safe.”
On the UCI circuit for U17 women, Tasmin Munro of Canmore’s Rundle Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC) finished fifth in XCO, and seventh in XCC.
Sunday’s Trailblazer competition was axed due to grizzly activity; however, the event also featured Alberta Cup races.
For U13 boys, locals Aidan Wright and Oliver Robins took gold and silver in the U13 boys XCC, respectively.
Caden Wallis won gold in the XCO.
For U13 girls, Canmore’s Charlie Pittard claimed first place in XCO, and RMCC’s Sophie Erfle was third.
Canmore’s Larix Hallett won gold and silver in the U15 men's races.
Sonija Rapcewicz with a pair of bronze medals in U15 girls.
For full results, visit www.zone4.ca.
